Drug addict steals from own mother to fund habit

A DESPERATE drug addict who stole from his own mother in order to fund his habit apologised to police when they caught him.

Colin Brown, 31, went round to his mum Patricia Brown’s home in the Duddingston area of Edinburgh three days in a row and stole jewellery, a games console and games which he sold on for a total of £368.50.

The court heard that Brown started taking heroin in February and sold the items on at Cash Generator to fund his habit.

Today at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, he pled guilty to four counts of theft between September 29 and October 1 this year.

Depute fiscal Malcolm Stewart told the court that Brown had stolen goods from Mrs Brown’s home on four occasions.

On September 29 he took jewellery worth £97 and a games console and games worth £11.50.

The next day he lifted jewellery worth £125 and on October 1 he stole more jewellery worth £135.

Mr Stewart added: “This was his mother’s jewellery.

“On various dates between September 29 and October 1 he simply went round and helped himself to her jewellery rocks and took them to Cash Generator where he got money for it.

“He did say ‘I’m sorry’ when he was cautioned and charged.

“He told police he took the jewellery to the Cash Generator and said he was sorry.”

Defence agent Stuart Carson told the court that Brown was trying to get help for his drug problems.

Sheriff Elizabeth Jarvie deferred sentence until February for good behaviour and to find out how Brown was doing with the treatment for his drug addiction.